Concrete block machine



1944- H. BQILLMAN ETAL 2,341,012

CONCRETE BLOCK MACHINE Filed Jan. 9, 1942 10 SheetsSheet 1 -IE-l- HENRYz. BlLfMAJV' CHARLES E. ELAEE'E'N FRANK X. MUENZEH m w k Feb. 8, 1944.

H. E. BILLMAN ETAL CONCRETE BLOCK MACHINE Filed Jan. 9, 1942 10Sheets-Sheet 2 HENHKE'. BJLLMAN CHARLES E FLAS'SEN THANK X MUENZEH 1944-v H.IE. B lLLMAN ETAL Q 2,341,012

' CONCRETE BLOCK MACHINE Filed Jan. 9, 1942 10 Sheets-Sheet s" INVENTORSHEN P? .E. BJLLMAN E'HARLZS E. FLA SEEN BY FHANK XMUENZEH Feb, 8, 1944.H, E BILLMAN ETA 2,341,012

CONCRETE BLOCK MACHINE Filed Jan. 9, 1942 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 Q Q\ Q m EINVENTORJ' H ENE? 15. Elli/MAN CHARLES .E ELASEEN E BY PHANKX. MUBNZE'EQ} N v TTORNEYS.

H. E. BILLMAN EI'AL 2,341,012

CONCRETE BLOCK MACHINE Filed Jan. 9, 1942 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 m-sm5 5INVENTORS E. BILLMAN UHAHLES .5! ELA 5' SEN BY FRANK x ML/ENZEHW%MTTORNEYS.

Feb. 8,' 1944. H. E. BILLMAN ETAL 2,341,012 CONCRETE BLOCK MACHINE FiledJan. 9, 1942 10 Sheets-Sheet e 54 w y W z z F )I a I r\I [N VENTORSBZNHYE'. BILLMAN BY CHAHLEB. 5. GLASSEN FRANK X. MUENZEH A TTORNE mFiled Jan. 9, 1942 l0 Sheets-Sheet 7 lTm-lz- INVENTORS I HENRY E..BJLLMAN CHARLES .E'. ELASSE'N FRANK X. MUENZE'H MW A TT y 1944. H. E.BILLMAN ETAL CONCRETE BLOCK MACHINE Filed Ja.n. 9, 1942 TIE-l5- 10Sheets-Sheet 8 ampa:- ylinder- QZ'IIGIII) J E J MNmm m HAHN N E A M V LT NEFM T A g HEM m HEP Feb. 8, 1944.

H. E. BILLMAN ETAL CONCRETE BLOCK MACHINE Filed Jan. 9, 1942 TIE-l5 1OSheets-Sheet 9 ullea 'Vibra 21:-

HENRY .E'. .EJLLMAN CHARLES E E'LASSEN FRANK XMUENZEZ? 1944- H. E.BILLMAN ETAL 2,341,012

CONCRETE BLOCK MACHINE -Filed Jan. 9, 1942 10 Sheets-Sheet l0 HENRY .E'.BILLMAN CHARLES .E. ELASSEN FFANK' X MUE'NZEE Patented Feb. 8, 1944CONCRETE BLOCK MACHINE Henry E. Billman and Charles E. Glassen, St.

Louis, Mo.,

and Frank X. Muenzer, Elmore,

Ohio, assignors to The Multiplex Concrete Machinery Company, Elmore,Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 9, 1942, Serial No.426,102

26 Claims.

This invention relates to concrete block making machines, and has forits primary object the provision of certain novel features in such amachine wherein the movement of the parts, with the possible exceptionof the vibrating action, is pneumatically efiected thereby, lesseningliability of breakage should movement of any part be prevented orresisted to a considerable extent for any cause and to enhance thepracticability and commercial value of the machine.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means whereby,during pressing, molded blocks maybe maintained in proper sizeirrespective of the amount of pressure applied.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for vibratingthe mold box during block molding operations and to so mount the moldbox that all jar or vibration is eliminated from the balance of themachine structure during vibration of the box.

Another object of the invention is the provision of novel and improvedvibrating means for the mold box and block material therein.

Another object of the invention is the provision of novel means andmethod for effecting dual vibrating of the block material duringmolding, so that the moisture is substantially uniformly distributedthrough the block from top to bottom, resulting in a block ofsubstantially uniform density and texture, and the top surface of aformed block is left smooth after pressing.

Another object of the invention is the provision, in combination withmeans for moving the mold box successively to filling and pressingpositions, of means for vibrating the mold box in both positions.

Another object of the invention is the utilization of pneumaticpressures for the tamping andpressing operations and the controlling ofsuch pressures to obtain a block of desired density or porosity.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means preferably ofa pneumatic nature in combination with movable supply hopper and moldbox units to relatively move said units into superimposed relation forthe mold box filling and tamping operations and then to move the fillingbox to material filling position and the mold box with its tampedmaterial to pressing position.

Another object of the invention is the provision, in connection with thetamping operation, of pneumatic means for regulating the tampingpressure applied to the material in the mold box whereby the density ofthe tamped material is controlled.

- sion, in connection with the tamping operation,

of means for regulating and determining the number of blows to bedelivered during the tamping of each block, thereby suiting the tampingaction to the densities desired and the type of material used.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a machine of theclass described of mold box filling, tamping, agitating, pressing andvibrating means so combined and coordinated that should various of thesemeans become inoperative v the compression of the others may becontinued. For instance the tamping means can be operated with orwithout the vibrating means and without operation of the pressing means,or the pressing means can be operated with or without the vibratingmeans and without the tamping means.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description, and from the accompanying drawingsillustrating the invention, in which- I Figure 1 is a side elevation ofthe machine, with the parts in normal at-rest position preparatory tostarting a cycle of operations, and with parts broken away; Fig. 2 is acentral longitudinal vertical section thereof, with parts broken awayand parts in full; Fig. 3 is a central vertical longitudinal section,with parts in full, and with the mold carriage and charge box in tampingposition, and a previously formed block in section on the take-offcarriage; Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the machine on the line 4-4in Fig. 2, with the presser head raised; Fig. 5 is a vertical sectionthrough the machine on the line 55 in Fig. 4, with the presser headraised; Fig. 6 is a similar section of one side portion of the machine,with the block ejecting means in raised position; Fig. 7 is afragmentary sectional detail similar to that of Fig. 5, with the ejectormeans raised to block lifting position and with parts in full; Fig. 8 isa fragmentary side detail view of the parts shown in Fig. 7. with theejector means in raised position; Fig. 9 is a plan vieu of one endportion of the mold box and its mounting means; Fig. 10 is a section onthe line Ill-Ii) in Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a diaglam of the pneumaticoperating means and control for the transfer movements of the chargebox. with the parts in cycle ending position; Fig. 12 1s a diagram ofthe pneumatic operating means and control for the pressing cylinder,with the parts in positions they assume immediately be fore a pressingoperation; Fig. 13 is a diagram of the pneumatic operating means andcontrol for the tamping means, with the parts in the position theyassume'immediately before a tamping operation; Fig. 14 is an elevationof the tamping means, with parts broken away, and with the pneumaticpressure gauge means in connection therewith; Fig. is a wiring diagramfor the vibrator motors; Fig. 16 is a fragmentary front end elevation ofthe machine equipped with automatic means for operating the take-offcarriage, and Fig. 1'7 is a fragmentary side elevation of the front endportion of the machine showing such equipment and with parts shown indiagram.

Referring to the drawings, the frame in its illustrated embodimentincludes a base structure composed of cross members I and longitudinallyextending connecting members 2, rising from which at the rear are a pairof opposed short side uprights 3, and forwardly thereof at spacedintervals are pairs of opposing tallside uprights 4, 5 and 6. Theuprights 4, B and 8 at their upper portions are connected together inpairs and longitudinally of the frame by suitable bars l to cooperatetherewith to form a well or space A in which the tamping means isdisposed and operates and a well or space B in which the pressing meansis disposed and operates. A crossbar 8 (Fig. 5) rigidly connects thelower end portions of the two uprights 5, 5. Longitudinally extendingbars 9 are rigidly secured in transversely spaced relation within theframe, one adjacent to each side thereof, and, in the present instance,are attached, as by welding, to bosses l0 projecting from the inner sideof each frame upright, as best shown in Fig. 5. The bars 9 extend overthe cross-bar 8.

A U-bar I l is mounted on each bar 3 lengthwise thereof by a pluralityof adjustable supports l2 and forms a track bar in which are mounted aseries of transversely spaced rollers IS with their top peripheralsurfaces exposed thereabove. A mold carriage is mounted forreciprocatory movements lengthwise of the frame over the track bars Hand includes at each side thereof a runner bar H of channel form, whichis guided for movements lengthwise of the frame by the respective trackbar i i and rides on the rollers l3 of the associated series. Each barI! is faced on its top with a runner plate IS, the outer edge of whichis projected beyond the bar If to form a side flange thereon. A mold boxI6 is mounted at each side thereof on the forward end portion of therespective runner plate l5, as hereinafter described, and is adapted toreceive and hold a mold ll of any suitable form, depending on the shape,size and number of blocks or other articles to be molded. Theconstruction and form of the mold I! and its manner of mounting in themold box IE are immaterial so far as the present invention is concerned,and need not, therefore, be described.

The mold carriage at the rear of the mold box It includes side uprightmembers l8 which are mounted on and rise from the rearward end portionsof the runner plates 15 and are connected at their upper edges by astrike-off plate l9, which has its forward edge terminating adjacent tothe upper rear edge of the mold and has its top surface in thehorizontal plane of the top surface of the mold, as shown in Fig. 3. Theplate 19 is of suflicient length to extend rearwardly across andslightly beyond the well A when the mold is in register with the well Bin pressing position, as shown inFig. 2.

A material charge box 23, open at top and bottom, is mounted forreciprocatory movements lengthwise of the machine over the plate It andmold l! with the plate l9 forming a bottom closure plate for the boxwhen the latter is thereover. In the operation of the machine the chargebox is filled when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2, withthe plate I9 under the box and with the mold I! at the extreme forwardend of its movement in pressing position.. When the mold is moved totamping position in the bottom of the well A, the box 23 at the sametime is moved into superimposed relation to the mold so that the moldcavities may be filled by material contained in the box and the tampingaction take place through the box, as shown in Fig. 3.

The charge box 23 is supported for its transfer movements by a set ofrollers 24 at each side thereof, bearing upward against horizontallydisposed side flanges 25 on the box, as best shown in Fig. 5. Theserollers operate in guide grooves onthe under sides of said flanges andare supported by stub shafts 28 projecting inward from horizontallydisposed bars 21 secured to the inner sides of the uprights 3 and 4-(Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5).

A material supply hopper 30 is disposed in the rear portion of the framebetween the uprights 4 and is positioned to have its bottom open to thetop of the charge box 23, so as to deliver material thereto, when thecharge box is at the rear end of its stroke in material receivingposition, as shown in Fig. 2. The charge box has a rearward extension 3|which moves under and completely closes the bottom discharge opening ofthe hopper when the box is in mold charging position. The hopper ispreferably provided at its rear side near its bottom with a secondaryopening 32 (Fig. 2), which may be used either to supply material to thebottom portion of the hopper or for the insertion of a tool foragitating the material to the hopper.

A common means, preferably having a pneumatic power source, is employedto operate the mold carriage and charge box in proper relation and willnow be described. In the present instance, the various pneumaticallyoperated parts of the machine are adapted to be operated by airpressure, and reference will therefore be made to "air in the subsequentdescription of the machine operation. It will be understood, however,that a fluid pressure medium other than air may be employed if desired.

An air cylinder 35 is suitably mounted at the rear end of the machinebelow the plane of movement of the strike-off plate [9 on suitable crossmembers 36 mounted on and connecting the track bars 9 and substantiallyaligned horizontally with the mold box IS. A piston 31 operates in thecylinder and has a rod 38 projecting therefrom through the forward endof the cylinder and connected to a cross-bar 20 between the carriageuprights l8, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so that reciprocation ofthe piston 31 within the cylinder will impart requisite movement to themold carriage. The control for the admission of air under pressure tofirst one end and then the other of the cylinder 35, at opposite sidesof the piston, will be hereinafter described.

Disposed in the rear end at each side of the path box 23 and strike-offplate chain 40 guided by a pair portion of the frame of travelof thecharge I9 is an endless power of sprocket-wheels 4| which the cylindersproject.

which are spaced loniitudinally of the frame to provide a lower run a.and an upper run I: for the chain. When the mold l1 and charge box 23are in the separated positions shown in Fig. 2, the lower run a oieachchain is attached near its forward end at c to the rear end portion ofthe respective side member l8 of the mold carriage, while the upper runb is attached near its rear end, as at d, to the rearward extension 3!of the charge box 23. It is thus apparent that movement of the moldcarriage in one direction will communicate movement through the chains40 in the opposite direction to the charge box, so that a rearwardmovement of the mold box to tamping position will cause forward movementof the charge box into verticalregister with the mold box in suchposition, and a return of the mold box to pressing position will cause areturn of the charge box to material supplying register with the supplyhopper.

In order to prevent a lifting of the mold carriage from the trackrollers l3 during an operation of the machine, and particularly duringan operation of the block ejecting means, as herein after described,each runner plate I is .engaged over its projecting side edge near therear end thereof when in pressing and ejecting position by a guidefinger 42 (Fig. 5) and is engaged at its forward end when in suchposition by fingers 43 (Fig. 2).

Tamping means The tamping means is disposedin the well A of the frameand includes a vertical air cylinder 45 in which a piston 46 operates.The piston rod 41 projects down through the'bottom of the cylinder andcarries a manifold head 48 from which a colony of air compressioncylinders 49 downwardly project and are tied together at their lowerends by a perforated plate 50 through These cylinders, in the presentinstance, are twelve in number and are arranged in three longitudinallyextending rows of four cylinders each. Each cylinder 49 contains apiston 5| downwardly from which a piston rod 52 projects through thebottom of the cylinder and carries at its lower end a tamping element53. The number and arrangement of the tamping elements, and accordinglythe cylinders '49, are best shown in Fig. 4. This number and arrangementwill, of course, vary in accordance with the shape and size and numberof cavities in the mold. In the present instance, the mold, as shown inFig. 4, is divided into three sections for forming three separate blocksand each section has three core members 54 therein. The tamping elementsare intended to enter a mold cavity of each section at each end withoutthe respective end core members 54 and also to enter the spaces betweensucceeds ing core members, thus requiring four tamping elements for eachmold section in order to secure satisfactory tamping. Each tampingelement, in the present instance, is of I-form in crosssection. It will,of course, be understood that the form and number of the tampingelements may be changed to suit the cavity formation of a mold section.

The air in each cylinder 49 is intended to serve as a cushion for therespective tamping element and is regulatable as to pressure to suit thepressure desired to be exerted by the tamping ele-' ment on the materialduring a tamping action. The several cylinders 49 at their upper endshave connection through manifold passages in the l'ill head 48 with apipe 55 which extends up at a side of the power cylinder 45 and connect:at its upper end through a connection 54 with I. controllable pressuresource. The pipe ll has its upper end attached to the cylinder 45 and isof telescoping form to maintain the air connection durlng'reciprocatorymovements of the head 48. It is apparent that the tamping action of theseveral tamping elements on the material is cushioned by the airpressure back of the pistons 5|, and that while such pressure issuiilcient to force the elements down through the loose material duringthe initial part of the tamping action, the pistons 5| will rise in thecylinders during successive tamping strokes and as the material in themold box becomes more and more compressed from the bottom upward. Also,if an unusual obstruction is encountered by any tamping element during atamping action, the air cushion back of the element will yield toprevent any breakage. The pistons and attached elements may assumedifferent vertical positions when the tam-pin colony is at the limit ofits down stroke, as shown in Fig. 3, due to a difference in density ofthe material at various points in a mold.

For the purpose of regulating the air pressure in the cylinders 49, thepipe 56 is adapted to have connection with a pressure tank 51 (Fig. 14),the supply line of which is provided with a pressure regulating valve58. In-this manner the blows delivered by the tamping elements may beregulated to suit the tamping pressure desired.

Pressing and sizing means When a mold with tamped material therein hasbeen transferred to pressing position at the bottom of the well B, asshown in Fig. 2, the material is subjected to a predetermined pressureto impart the desired density thereto and to give the formed blocks thedesired sizes. For this purpose, an air cylinder 60 is mounted in theupper end of the well B and has a piston 6| therein connected by a rod62 to a presser head 63 below the cylinder. This presser head is in theform of a hollow cross-beam having a chamber 64 therein, and is providedat its under side with a series of presser plates 65 corresponding tothe number of sections in the mold l9 and each fashioned to fit in theupper portion of the cavity of the respective section, whereby pressureapplied to the plates is uniformly distributed downwardly on the top ofthe material in the mold when the presser head is substantially at thelimit of its down stroke, as shown in Fig. 2. The means for controllingthe admission of air to one or the other end of the cylinder 60, toeffect a raising or lowerin of the presser head, is automatic and willbe later described.

The presser head 63, at each end thereof, is provided with a guide block66 which projects into the space between the frame uprights 5 and 6 atthe same side therewith and cooperates with guide strips 61 secured tosaid uprights (Figs. 1 and 5) to guide the reciprocatory movements ofsaid head.

Block ejecting means means includes a cross-head l0 mounted in the lowerportion of the well B below the mold pressing position which carries aplurality of ejector fingers II that enter registering openings in thebottom plate of the mold II and during an upward movement of saidcross-head engage pallets 13 in the bottom of the mold sections andforce them upward with the molded blocks to takeofl'" position (Fig. 7).

The cross-head I has its ends projected into the adjacent spaces betweenthe respective sets of frame uprights and 6 and cooperate with suitableguides I4 attached to said uprights (Figs. 1 and 4) to guide thevertical reciprocatory movements of the head. A bracket I5 projectsupward from each end of the head within the space between the adjacentset of uprights 5 and 8 and has a pivot stud I6 projecting outwardtherefrom (Fig. 5). A vertically movable trip-bar II is disposed at eachside of the frame without the guiding means for the head I0 and has itslower end provided with a vertical slot I8 receiving the adjacent studI6. The upper end of the trip-bar I1 projects up through a guide openingin the respective guide block 68 and has a vertically elongated opening19 therein which straddles a pin 80 which attaches the guide block tothe crosshead 63. The outer side of the bar 11 adjacent to the lower endof the opening "I8 is provided with a cross notch 8| which, when thepresser head 64 has lowered substantially to the limit of its pressingstroke, registers with and is lockingly engaged by a cam shaft 82, asshown in Fig. 6. This shaft is mounted in the guide block 66 crosswisethereof at its outer end and has one side cut away to have flatengagement with the outer side of the trip-bar to permit relativereciprocatory movements of the bar and presser head, except when thepresser head has been lowered to place the shaft 82 in register with thenotch 8|, which permits a turning of the shaft into locking engagementwith the upper end wall of the notch to cause the trip-bar to be movedupward with the presser head when raised. The shaft 82 has an arm 83projecting from one end thereof and connected by a coiled contractilespring 84 to a fixed part 85 on the guide block 66 to urge the shaft tonormally turn into locking engagement with the trip-bar.

To each end of the cross-head I0 is fulcrumed a lever 88, which issubstantially horizontal and has the free ,end of its short arm (Figs. 1and 4) tripping, is provided at one end with an arm 93 carrying a roller94 with which the cam portion 95 of a. trip-bar 86 is intended to engageto effect a release of the lock shaft from the respective trip-bar IIwhen the trip-bar 96 has been lowered a predetermined extent from theraised position in which it is normally held by the spring 9! (Figs.land 7). Each trip-bar 86 is connected by a respective link 98 (Figs. 1and 4) and rocker arm 99 to a rock-shaft I00 mounted at the front end ofthe machine crosswise thereof- Bar tripping movements may be imparted tothe shaft I00 by a manually operable lever IN, or the shaft may beautomatically operated as hereinafter described in connection with theautomatic block take-off means.

In order to prevent a sudden dropping of the ejecting means when thetrip-bars II are released by the lock shafts 82, each trip-bar II has arod I02 projecting upward therefrom and provided at its upper end with aplunger I03 operating in a dash pot I04 which is suitably supported atthe upper end of the frame, as best shown in Fig. 5. The dash potcontains oil and this passes slowly through perforations in the plungerto cause a slow lowering of the ejector mechanism in a well knownmanner.

Block ftake-ofi means Fixed at its rear end to and projecting forwardfrom each frame upright 6 (Figs. 3 and 4) is a horizontally disposedframe I05 supported at its outer end at each side by a brace I08 riseing from the bas portion of the frame. A horizontally disposed track-barI0! is mounted at its forward end to the forward end of the frame I05for vertical rocking movements, and in the a present instance is ofchannel bar formation positioned to bear downward on a frame block 89,

so that an upward movement of the opposite arm of the lever 'will impartan initial forceful raising movement to the cross-head I0. The outer endof the long arm of the lever 88 is connected by a link 90 to theadjacent trip-bar II a distance above its slot 78, so that during anupward lost motion movement of the trip-bar 11 relative to the pin I6the lever will operate to effect a start ing movement of the cross-head.During the continued upward movement of the two trip-bars II with thepresser head, the cross-head I0 is raised with its channel facinginward. The rear end portion of each track-bar is supported by a leg I08carrying a roller I09 at its lower end which rests on a'cam IIO on therock shaft I00. A movement of the shaft I00 to tripping position for thetrip bars 96 causes th high portion of the cams IIO to turn under therollers I09 and effect a slight raising of the rear end of the trackbars I0'I for the purpose hereinafter described.

A take-off carriage III is mounted for horizontal reciprocatorymovements on the trackbars I01 and has a body part I I2 provided withrollers which travel in the channels of the respective track-bars I0'I.Mounted on and projecting rearward from this body part are a pluralityof fingers II3 which, upon a rearward movement of the carriage, may beprojected under the pallets I3 of the molded blocks which have beenraised to take-off. position by the ejecting means. The carriage, ofcourse, is moved under the blocks before a tripping and lowering oftheejecting means with the cams IIO on the manual control shaft I00 inlowered position, thus permitting'the forward end of the carriagefingers to pass under the raised blocks and their supporting palletsfree from engagement therewith, as shown in Fig. 8. The movement of thecontrol shaft I00 to release the ejecting means and permit its loweringcauses the cams IIO to be actuated to raise the rear ends of thetrack-bars I01, and conse quently the carriage fingers, upwardsufficiently to engage the under side of the block supporting palletsI3, so that any dropping of the newly molded blocks to engage thetake-off carriage. and consequent jar to the blocks, is prevented whenthe ejecting means is lowered. As previously describedg'the ejectingmeans immediately drops tondrmal position when the control trip isoperated. Either after or during such dropping movement the take-off"carriage HI with the newly molded blocks thereon may be moved out to thecarrying-away" position shown in Fig. 3.

This raising of the take-off carriage into supporting engagement withthe block carrying pallets after the carriage moves thereunder andbefore the ejecting means starts its lowering or return movement tonormal position is important, as it eliminates the jar and possibleinjury to the newly molded blocks which has been found in practice tooccur when such blocks are lowered into engagement with a take-off"table during a lowering action of the ejecting means.

The take-off carriage III may be manually moved to and from blocktaking-off position'as indicated by reference to Fig. 3, or it may beautomatically effected at predetermined stages in a raising or loweringof the block ejecting means l0, H, as shown in Figs. 16 and 17. For thislatter purpose the take-off carriage HI is yieldingly connected by adownwardly and rearwardly projecting bar 250 to a horizontally disposedarm or rod 25f which is parallel with and attached at its forward end tothe forward .end of a piston rod 252. The yielding connection of the bar250 with the rod 25l is through two opposing springs 253 actingoutwardly, against nuts or stops 254 on the rod. The piston rod 252 hasits piston 254 operating in a long air cylinder 255 projecting forwardlyfrom the rear end of the machine frame. The admission to and exhaust ofair from one end or the other of said cylinder is controlled by afour-way valve 256 having an operating rocker arm 25! projectingtherefrom and carrying a roller at its free end.

The valve has an air pressure supply line (not shown), and hasconnection with the forward end of the cylinder through a line 11. andwith the rear end of the cylinder through a connection w. The valve arm25! is normally held by a spring 258 in the lowered position shown; inwhich position the line w to the rear end of the cylinder is open to thepressure supply line, and the line it to the forward end of the cylinderis closed to the supply line and is open for exhaust. I

When the ejector cross-bar is raised from its lowered position, an arm259 thereon engages the roller on the valve arm and effects a movementof the valve to reverse the air action, that is, opening the rear end ofthe cylinder to the exhaust and its forward end to the air pressuresupply. This latter control action, however, is not effected until theejector means is very nearly at the top of its ejecting the rocker arm28! actuates the cam H0 to raise the carriage fingers I ll up under theelevated blocks into engagement therewith. as hereinbefore described.

When the ejector parts have returned to their normal lowered position bya tripping of the bars 11, as hereinbefore described, the valve arm 251will be permitted to return to its lowered position under the action ofthe spring thereby reversing the action of the air in the cylinder 255and causing the plunger to be returned to its forwardly extendedposition and to draw the ejector carriage forwardly therewith. As theplunger begins its forward movement, the rod 25f releases the plunger ofthe air valve 260 and permits such valve to close the communication ofthe pressure supply line with the cylinder 26L This permits movement ofthe cams 0 from the track arms 18 and a consequent slight lowering ofthe rear end of the carriage with the formed v blocks thereon.

stroke, so that the fingers H3 of the take-off carriage may be advancedunder the raised blocks.

When the take-off carriage H2 has approximately reached the limit of itsrearward stroke, the forward end of the rod 25!, which is tapered orinclined for the purpose, passes under the plunger of a normally closedvalve 260 in an air pressure supply line a: and moves the valve to opensuch line and admit air under pressure to the lower end of an uprightcylinder 26l beneath a plunger therein. This plunger has its rod 262connected by a link with a rocker arm 263 projecting forwardly anddownwardly from the cam shaft I00 carrying the cam H0. The raising ofVibrating means Vibration of the block material in the mold is intendedto take place during both the tamping and the pressing operations; to bediscontinued during a transfer of the mold from tamping position topressing position, during which transfer the material in the charge box23 is stripped from the material in the mold', and to be of a dualnature during the pressing operation.

It is found that if the vibration of the mold continues during theretracting movement of the charge box from over the mold, the materialin the mold becomes progressively of greater density from front to reardue to the progressively longer period of register of the charge boxwith the mold during such movement. In other words, more material willbe discharged into the. rear end of the mold than into its front end. Itis, therefore, desirable to have the vibration action stop substantiallysimultaneous with the breaking of the motor circuit, which can beaccomplished by the type of motor used, as well understood in the art.

It is also found desirable during the pressing operation to effect adual vibration of the material, whereby it is vibrated both at top andbottom in order to impart a smooth top surface to the material in themold and eliminate voids therein during a single pressing action. Inpractice, the block is subjected to a finishing pressure ofapproximately 2000 pounds, and if vibration does not occur on the top ofthe material during such pressing action, it is'i'ound that the topsurface has many voids therein due to the coarse nature of the materialand to the fact that the material cannot properly adjust itself toeliminate the voids during the pressing action. By vibrating the topsurface of the material during the pressing action, the material isgiven a more finished smoothness on top as would otherwise occur onlyunder a longer and greater pressing action or under repeated pressingoperations. The vibrating of the top surface of the mold material,therefore, not only produces a smooth top surface, but effects suchsmoothness in a shorter time and with less pressure than would otherwisebe the case.

In order to effect vibration of the mold in both stages of its transfermovements, 9. cross shaft I I5 is mounted in brackets H6 at each end ofthe box it and an endless chain II! is mounted around sprockets I I8,H8, on said shafts at one end thereof and is thencelooped down between apair of sheaves I I9 and around a drive shaft I20 relation by suitablebolts.

on a shaft of a drive motor I2I. The shafts IIE are provided with one ormore eccentric weights I22 (Fig. 4), which, when rapidly rotated withthe shafts, impart violent vibration to the mold box. The sheaves II9have their shafts stationary with respect to the machine frame, beingconnected in the present instance to one of the longitudinally extendingbars 9, o that the transfer movements of the mold box take placerelative to the looped portion of the belt which extends down to themotor, as is apparent by reference to Figs. 2 and 3. The motor I2I, inthe present instance, is mounted on a bracket I23 which is pivoted atone end to the base portion of the frame so that its tendency to swingdownward under the weight of the motor serves as a simple means formaintaining the vibrator belt taut. It is found desirable in practice touse a chain II'I instead of a belt and to use sprockets II8 on theshafts H in place of sheaves, so as to effect a synchronized running ofthe weighted shafts and thereby prevent unbalanced action.

To facilitate the vibrating action, the mold box it is provided at eachside centrally thereof with a trunnion I25 (Figs. 5, 9 and in thepresent instance of hexagonal form in cross-section, and each trunnionis mounted in a correspondingly shaped opening of a bearing block I26with a rubber cushion i2? therebetween, so that the trunnion has ayielding floating support in the bearing, which is mounted on and risesfrom the runner plate I5. The mold box at each side of the trunnion Iand its bearing is provided with alug I28 which rests on and is spacedfrom the plate I5 by a rubber cushion block I29. A bolt I30 projects upfrom the plate I5 through the cushion block and lug and holds the partsmaterial, a vibrator motor I (Figs. 3 and 5) is mounted in the chamber66 of the cross-beam 63 and transfers its vibrations to the presserplates 65 through cushion members. In the present instance, the motorshaft, on which eccentric weights I36 are provided, is mounted at itsends in standards I 31 rising from a base plate I38, and the motoritself is cushioned from this plate by an interposed rubber mat I39. Theplate I38 in turn is mounted through intermediate rubber cushions I40 ona plate I, which serves as a closure plate for an opening in the bottomof the beam 63 through which the motor may be inserted, and the presserplates are attached to the under side of the plate I4I through themedium of interposed rubber spacers I42. The several mounting parts areheld in assembled It is apparent that vibration set up by rapid rotationof the weights I36 is communicated through cushions to the presserplates 65.

Both motors I2I and I35 preferably should be of the substantiallyinstantaneous stopping or brake type.

Transfer, tamping and pressing controls These various controls are sointerconnected and interdependent that they must be considered more orless together.

It will be understood that at the end of each cycle of operations of themachine the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, except inthe latter the presser means is raised and the molded, blocks have beenejected. In this position the charge box 23 stands at the right belowthe hopper 30 from which it is filled and the mold stands at the left inpressing position. In order to start a cycle of operations, the operatorpresses a starter button I50 located on one of the uprights 6 at thefront of the machine, and this effects the opening of an air pressurevalve I5I (Fig. 11), which permits air under air line pressure to enterthe transfer line I52 from the supply line I53. This supply lineincludes a valve I54 which is only open when the ejector means,including the trip-bar II, is in its normal lowered inoperativeposition. For this purpose, one of the trip-rods 11 carries at its upperend a stud I55 which, when the trip-rod is in its completely lowered orat-rest position, engages a lever I56 mounted on the upright 5, andmoves it to effect an opening of the valve I54 against the tension of aclosing spring, as shown in Fig. 8 and more or less diagrammatically inFig. 11. It is thus apparent that an operation of the press cannot bestarted until the ejector means has returned to its'normal inoperativeposition.

The opening of the starter valve I5I permits air under operatingpressure to pass through the line I52 to one end of a cylinder typereverse valve I51 in which a plunger I58 operates. Air pressure from theline I52 causes movement of the valve plunger to the left, cutting offthe connection of a supply line I59 to the right end of the transfercylinder 35 and causing air from such line to enter the left end of thecylinder and permittingexhaust from the opposite end. This causes amovement of the plunger 31 to the right in cylinder 35, which in turndraws the mold box to charging and tamping position in the well A, asshown in Fig. 3. This movement in turn of the mold box and itsstrike-off plate I9 acts through the chains 40 to move the charge box 23into superposed charging relation to the mold box and in register withthe tamping means.

Just before the mold box has reached its tamping position a pivoted tripfinger I60 thereon (Fig. 13) passes over and operates a valve plungerI6I to momentarily open a pilot valve I62 which in turn opens a pilotsupply line I63 to and through a trip valve I64, then open, to one endof the cylinder of a reverse valve I 65. The opening of the line I63moves the plunger of the reverse valve I65 in a direction to permitadmission of operating air through the line I66 to the upper end of thepower tamping cylinder 45 and permits exhaust from its opposite end.When the tamping colony associated with the cylinder 45 is in its raisedposition, a projection I61 thereon acts on and holds the valve I64 open.The admission of air pressure to the upper end of the cylinder 45imparts a down stroke to the tamping colony, thus releasing the tripvalve I64 and permitting it to close. When such colony has reached thelimit of its down stroke the extension IB'I will have engaged and openeda companion trip valve I68, which opens a pilot supply of air throughthe line I 69 to the opposite end of the reverse valve I65 and effects areversal thereof, so that air pressure to the upper end of the cylinderis cut off and air pressure admitted to the lower end through the lineI10 from the main power supply line I! I.

In order to prevent stopping of the tamping action when the tampingcolony has returned to its raised position and opened the trip valveI64, a repeater control is automatically brought into operation so as tocause the tamping colony to make a predetermined number of strokesbefore being stopped. For this purpose, at each clown stroke of thetamping colony a roller I15 thereon engages and imparts movement to alever I16 (Fig. 1), which lever in turn actuates a pawl I'II to move aratchet wheel I18 the length of one tooth. This wheel is mounted on across shaft I19 mounted crosswise in the upper portion of the frame andcarries a repeater cam I80 and a safety stop cam I8I (Figs. 11 and 13).

The repeater cam I80 has a number of equidistantly spaced depressionsI82 in its periphery, which determine the number of stops of the tampingmeans in a complete rotation of the ratchet wheel and the spacingbetween these recesses, considered in connection with the number ofteeth in the ratchet disposed in the same length arc, determine thenumber of repeating strokes of the tamping means for each cycle ofoperations. For instance, the ratchet has twentyfour teeth and therepeater cam has four notches. There will,' therefore, be six strokes ofthe tamping colony during each machine cycle or for each tampingoperation. The action and purpose of the stop cam I8I will later bedescribed.

Upon the first down stroke of the tamping colony the ratchet I18 will bemoved the length of one tooth, which is sufficient to throw the engagingroller of a plunger check valve I83 to open position (Fig. 13), whichposition is maintained until the next depression of the cam has movedinto register with the roller. This valve is disposed in a pilot airpressure supply line I84 which connects with the line I63 and through itto the trip valve I64, so as to suppl air pressure to the line I63 whenthe pilot valve I62, with which it was initially connected, has closed.This causes air pressure to be supplied to the right hand side of thereverse valve I65 each time the tamping colony returns to its raisedposition and opens the trip valve I64 so that the tamping strokes arerepeated until the cam I80 has turned sufliciently for the roller of thevalve I83 to drop into the next cam depression I82. No further tampingwill then occur until the next cycle of operations of the machine. Theline I84 connects with the line I63 between two oppositely closing checkvalves I85 therein.

A check valve I90 (Fig. 11) is disposed in an air supply line I9I, whichleads through a normally closed check valve I92 to the opposite end ofthe reverse valve I51 to that to which the initial starting line I52 isconnected. When the machine is-at rest between cycles, or when theroller of the check valve I83 (Fig. 13) is in a depression of the camI80, the roller of the plunger of the valve I60 stands on one of fourequidistantly spaced high spots I93 of the stop cam I8I, so that thevalve I90 is then in open position. The high spots I93 correspondinnu'rn her and spacing to the depression in the cam I80. The cams I80and I8I move together so that as the plunger of the check valve I83moves out of register with a depression in the cam I80 and to openposition, the plunger of the valve I90 will drop from a raised point soas to close the valve. This closed position of the valve I90 willcontinue until its plunger moves on to the next high spot, which takesplace at the same time the plunger of valve I83 drops into thedepression of its cam. It is apparent that the valve I90 serves as asafety stop valve in the reverse supply line I9I to the transfer valveI61 so as to prevent a transfer or the mold box carriage and charge boxfrom tamping position until the tamplng operation is completed.Therefore, upon a completion of a tamping operation, both the safetystop valve I90 and the trip valve I82 are open to permit the passage ofair pressure through the transfer line I9I and effect movement of the12) Passes over the roller of a pilot valve plunger 20I to effect anopening of the air pressure line 202 to the right end, in the presentinstance, of

a reverse valve 203, which controls the admission and exhaust of airpressure to one end or the other of the pressing cylinder 60. Suchadmission of air pressure to the valve 203 opens an air pressure supplyline 204 to the upper end of the cylinder through the line 205 andcloses the supply line communication to the lower end of the cylinderthrough the line 206. It is thus apparent that by the time the moldcarriage has reached pressing position, the pressing means will beenergized and the presser head 63 will have started its down or pressurestroke. When the presser head has approximately reached the limit of itsdown or pressing stroke, a trip pin 20] thereon will have engaged andmoved a trip lever 208 mounted on one side of the press frame andeifected a movement of such lever to open a trip valve 209 in a pressuresupply line 2I0 to the left end of the reverse valve 203. This efiects amovement of the reverse valve plunger to the right, so as to close theair pressure supp y to the upper end of the cylinder and open the supplyto its lower end. It is apparent that there is only one stroke of thepressing means and that pressure will not again be supplied to the upperend of the pressing cylinder until the next block forming operation ofthe machine. The trip pin 201 is preferably adjustable to vary its pointof engagement with the lever 208 to suit the extent of compressingaction desired to be applied to the mold material and to determine thesizing of the molded blocks. In this manner, the reverse valve 203 isactuated to stop the pressing action and raise the pressing means whenthe formed blocks have been given a predetermined depth.

It will be understood that when the mold carriage is at the limit of itsrearward stroke, the trip finger I60 will have passed over the valveplunger I6I, and also that when the mold carriage is at the limit of itsforward position, the trip finger 200 will have passed over the valveplunger 20I. It is thus apparent that the valve plungers I6I and 20lwill be only momentarily opened during respective rearward and forwardmovements of the mold box and will stand in valve closin position whenthe mold box is at either limit of its movement.

Vibration control The vibrator motors I2I and I35 are both connected, inthe present instance, in a single circuit (Fig. 15) and are controlledby two main switches H and M6 mounted on a side of the frame (Fig. 1)and operated by movements of the mold carriage, an auxiliary switch 2i!operated by movement of the transfer reverse valve I51, and an auxiliaryswitch 2l8 operated by movement of .the presser means reverse valve 203.

The switch 2l5 is normally open and ls closed by engagement therewith ofa flange 2 I 9 on a side of the mold carriage immediately after ,thecarriage has started its rearward movement from pressing to tampingposition, and is maintained closed thereby until the carriage hasreturned to near the end of its forward stroke. The switch 2l6 isnormally closed and is opened by engagement therewith of a flange 220 ona side of the mold carriage and is held open thereby during the sameperiod of operation that the iswitch 2I5 is held closed. The auxiliaryswitch 211 is dis- .posed in circuit with the main switch 215, isnormally closed, and is opened by the engagement therewith of anextension 22| on the rear or 7 right hand end of the plunger I528 of thetrans fer valvel5l. when such plunger. is at the rear end of itsmovement, or is in position for admitting air to the rear end of thetransfer cylinder to move the mold carriage to and hold it in itsforward position. The opening of the switch 2" thus occurs at the end ofa tamping operation and continues until the commencement of the nextcycle of operations. The auxiliary switch 218 is disposed in circuitwith the main switch 2l0 and is normally closed. This switch is openedby engagement therewith of an extension 222 on the plunger of thereverse valve 203 for the presser cylinder when the valve plunger is atthe end of its stroke, which admits air to the lower end of the presscylinder 60.

As the mold carriage moves rearward upon the starting of a cycle ofoperations of the machine, the flanges 219 and 220 thereon willrespectively act on the main switches H5 and 2 l6 to close the formerand open the latter, and such position of these switches is maintaineduntil the carriage has returned to pressing position or to the forwardend of its stroke. During the rearward movement of the mold carriage theauxiliary switch 2|! is also closed. The wiring is such that when bothof these switches are closed the mold box vibrating motor l2l alone willbe operated. During the transfer movements of the mold carriage anduntil it has returned to pressing position, the presser head vibratormotor I35 is dead, due to the control of such motor being through theswitches 2l6 and 218, both of which are open during such transfermovements and 'during which period the presser means is inoperative. Atthe end of the tamping operation and immediately before the moldcarriage starts its forward or return stroke to pressing position, theauxiliary valve 2H is opened by movement of the transfer valve plungerto the right, thereby stopping the operation of the motor l2! and thevibrating of the box. When the mold carriage has substantially reachedthe limit of its forward movement to pressing position, the flange 220will have ,moved from engagement with the switch 216 and permitted itsclosing. This switch is in circuit with both motors. The auxiliaryswitch 2l8, however, is disposed in series with the switch 2l6, so thatthe two motors will not be operated to start vibration of both the moldbox and presser head until the reverse valve 203 has been moved to admitpressure to the upper end of the presser cylinder 60, at which stage theswitch H8 is released by the plunger extension 222 on said valve andpermitted to close. Inasmuch as both switches 218 and 2H! are in circuitwith both motors i2! and I35, vibration of both the mold box and presserhead is effected and continues during the pressing operation and untilthe valve 203 has been operated, at the lower end of the presser stroke,to effect a raising of the presser head. When this occurs, the switch2l8 is opened and the operation of both motors is stopped.

We wish it understood that our invention is not limited to any specificconstruction, arrangement or form of the parts, as it is capable ofnumerousmodifications and changes without de parting from the spirit ofthe claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim-as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent, is:

v "1. In a machine of the class described having tamping and pressingpositions, separate mold and charge boxes movable to superimposedtamping position and respectively from such position to pressing andmaterial supply positions, pneumatic means operable to move one of saidboxes to tamping position and then back to its other position, and meansconnecting said boxes and causing the movement of the other of saidboxes to and from tamping position simultaneous with the movement of thepneumatic means operated box respectively to and from tamping position.

2. In a machine of the class described having tamping and pressingpositions, a mold box movable from pressing to tamping position and viceprojecting therefrom, a charge box movable from material supply totamping positions, and when in tamping position being disposed incharging position over the mold box, said cut-off plate closing thebottom of the charge box except when the boxes are in tamping position,means operable to impart transfer movements to one of said boxes,andmeans operable to cause transfer movements to be imparted in unisonfrom one box to the other whereby the boxes are simultaneously moved toand from tamping position.

4. In a machine of the class. described having a material supplyposition and a tamping position, a mold box movable to and from tampingposition, means for imparting such movement to the mold box, a chargebox movable from material supply position to tamping position over themold box when in such position, and chain and sprocket means connectingthe mold and charge boxes and operable to move the charge box to tampingposition when the mold is moved to such position and to move the chargebox to supply position when the mold is moved from tamping position.

5. In a machine of the class described, a reciprocally movable tampinghead having a tamping element projecting downward therefrom forcushioned tamping movements, fluid pressure means regulable as topressure for cushioning the tamping movements of said element relativeto the head, and means for'imparting reciprocatory movements to saidhead. I

6. In a machine of the class described, a power cylinder, a plungeroperable in said cylinder and carrying a tamping head below thecylinder, a tamping element movable with said head and having cushionedconnection therewith to permit a yielding movement of the tampingelement relative to the head under predetermined pressure, regulablefluid pressure means for controlling the cushioned movements of the.tamping element relative to the head, and means operable to admitfluidpressure to either end of said cylinder and exhaust from the other toeffect first an outward and then an inward stroke of the plunger andhead.

7. In a machine of the class described, .a reciprocally movable tampinghead having a plurality of tamping elements projecting downwardtherefrom in th direction of tamping movements. regulable fluid pressuremeans for cushioning the tamping action of the several elements relativeto the head, and means operable to impart reciprocatory tampingmovements to the head.

8. In a machine of the class described, a vertically movable tampinghead having a plurality of tamping elements projecting downward there-,from for movements with the head and for movements relative thereto inthe plane of the tamping force, regulable fluid pressure means fornormally holding said elements extended relative to the head andpermitting cushioned inward movements thereof relative to each other andto the head, and means operable to impart downward and upward strokes tothe head.

matically operable to cause timed operation of the vibrating means whenthe mold box has returned to pressing position.

12. In a. machine of the class described having tamping and pressingpositions, a mold box movable from pressing to tamping position and viceversa, means operable to vibrate the mold box when in both pressing andtamping positions, means operable to apply pressure to the top ofmaterial in the mold when in pressin position,

and means operable to vibrate the pressing means during a pressingaction.

1 3. In a machine of the class described having pressing and tampingpositions, a mold box movable from one to the other of said positionsand vice versa, means operable to impart transfer 9. In a machine of theclass described having tarnping and pressing positions, a mold movablefrom pressing to tamping position and vice versa,

means operable to vibrate the mold when in tamping position and duringmovement from pressing to tamping position, and means automaticallyoperable to stop the action of said vibrating means immediately afterthe tamping operation.

10. In a machine or the class described havin tamping and pressingpositions, a moldmovable from pressing to tamping positions and viceversa, means for supplying material to the mold when in tampingposition, means operable to strike of! said supply trom the mold whenthe latter is being moved from tamping to pressing positions, meansoperable to vibrate the molds in both presslngand tamping positions, andmeans for rendering said vibrating means inoperative during a strike-offmovement of the mold.

11. In a machine of the class described having tamping and pressingpositions, a mold movable from pressing to tamping position and viceversa and having a material strike-oi! member projecting therefrom, acharge box movable over saidstrike-off member and into superimposedrelation to the mold when in tamping, position and vice versa, means forimparting reciprocatory movements to the mold, means for impartingreciprocatory movements to the charge. box, means operable to vibratethe mold box inboth tamping and pressing position, and meansautomatically operable by predetermined movements of said mold to causeoperation of the vibrating means while the mold i in tamping position,means automatically operable to'discontinue the operation of thevibrating means during return of the mold from tamping to pressingpositions and during which period the material in the charge box isstruck off from the mold, and means automovements to said box from oneposition to the other and vice versa, means operable to apply a sizingpressure to material in the mold box when in pressing position, separatemeans operable to vibrate the mold box and pressing means, meansautomatically operable by the transfer means to cause operation of thebox vibrating means while the box i in tamping position and operable todiscontinue said vibrating action during movements of the box fromtamping to pressing position, means automatically operable to causeoperation of both vibrating means when the mold box has returned fromtamping to pressing position, and means automatically operable at apredetermined point in the movement of the pressing means to render bothvibrating means inoperative.

14. In a machine of the class described wherein a presser headvertically reciprocates over a mold box to press material into" blockform therein, an ejector means for the formed blocks including a crosshead vertically movable beneath the mold box and having upwardlyprojecting fingers for moving upward through the mold box to eject theblock therefrom when the cross head is raised, vertically reciprocatorytrip means having lost motion connection with said cross head, meanscarried by the presser head for locking engagement with said trip meanswhen the presser head is at the lower end of a pressing stroke andeffect inga raising of the trip means with the presser head during itsupward movement, said trip means during said upward movement firsthaving lost motion movement relative to the cross head and then raisingthe cross head to effect an ejection of a formed block from the moldblocks, means operable by the trip means during said lost motionmovement to eflect a forced initial raising movement to thecross headprior to the raising thereof by the trip means, and said looking meansbeing operable to release the trip means and permit a lowering of thecross head.

15. In a machine of the class described,means for raising a molded blockto ejected position above a mold in which it is formed, releasable meansfor holding the ejecting means in raised position, a take-off carriagemounted for movement under a raised block in spaced relation thereto,means operable .to release said releasable means to permit a lowering ofthe ejector means, and means for guiding the carriage movements andoperable to raise the carriage-into supporting engagement with the blockwhen thereunder preparatory to a lowering of the ejector means.

16. In a machine of the class described, means operable to raise amolded block to ejected position above a mold in which it is formed,releasable means for holding the ejector means in raised position, atake-ofi carriage mounted for movement undena raised block out ofengagement therewith, and means for guiding the carriage movements andoperable to raise the carriage into supporting engagement with the blockwhen thereunder and then to release said releasable means to permit alowering of the ejector means to inoperative position.

17. In a machine of the class described wherein a presser headvertically reciprocates over a mold box to press material into blockform therein, means having connection with said presser head during anupward movement thereof from pressing position and automaticallyoperable by such movement of the head to elect a formed block upwardlyfrom the mold box, a take-01f carriage mounted for movement under araised block out of engagement therewith, and means for guiding themovements of the carriage and operable to raise the carriage intosupporting engagement with the block and then to effect a release of theconnection of said ejector means with the presser head to permit theejector means to lower to inoperative position.

18. In a machine of the class described, means operable to raise amolded block to ejected position above a mold in which it is formed,releasable means for holding the ejector means in raised position, atake-oil carriage guided for predetermined movements, meansautomatically operable when the ejector means has reached apredetermined ejecting position to effect a movement of the carriageunder a block out of engagement therewith and operable upon a loweringof the ejecting means to effect a movement of the carriage to carry-awayposition, and guide means for the carriage automatically operable whenthe carriage has moved substantially under a raised block to effect araising of the carriage into supporting engagement with the block andthen to release said releasable means to permit a lowering of theejector means to inoperative position.

19. In a machine of the class described, means operable to raise amolded block to ejected posi-, tion above a mold in which it is formed,releasable means for holding the ejector means in raised position, atake-01f carriage guided for predetermined movements, meanspneumatically operable at a predetermined point in a raising of theejector means to efiect a movement of the carriage under a block andthen pneumatically operable at a predetermined point in a lowering ofthe ejector means to effect an outward movement of the carriage to blockcarry-away position with a block thereon, and means operable to releasesaid releasable means to permit a lowering of the ejector means toinoperative position.

20. In a machine of the class described, means operable to raise amolded block to ejected position above a mold in which it is formed,releasable means for holding the ejector means in raised position, atake-off carriage for movement under a raised block out of engagementtherewith, means pneumatically operable to move the carriage to suchposition at a predetermined point in a raising movement of theejectormeans and pneumatically operable to retract the carriage tocarry-away position when the ejector means has lowered a predeterminedextent from block ejecting position, and means controlled by movement ofsaid carriage operating means and automatically operable to raise thecarriage into supporting engagement with the block and then to releasesaid releasable means to permit a low ering of the ejector means toinoperative position.

21. In a machine of the class described including a tamping means andwherein a mold box is horizontally movable to and from tamping position,transfer means operable to move the mold to and from tamping position,control means automatically operable to effect operation of the tampingmeans when the mold box has been moved to tamping position, and meansrendered operative by operation of the tamping means to cause thetamping means to have a predetermined number of tamping strokes and thento stop the tamping action.

22. In a machine of the class described including a verticallyreciprocable tamping means and wherein a mold box is movablehorizontally to and from tamping position, a fluid pressure operatedtransfer means operable to move the mold box. to and from tampingposition, fluid pressure operating means for the tamping means to imparta tamping stroke to the tamping means and then to retract it, and meanscooperating with said last fluid pressure operating means to cause apredetermined number of tamping strokes to be imparted to the tampingmeans and then to stop the tamping action.

23. In a machine of the class described wherein a mold box ishorizontally movable to and from tamping position and a tamping headoperates over the mold box, transfer means for the mold box operable byfluid pressure to move the box to and from tamping position, fluidpressure operating means for imparting a tamping stroke to the tampinghead and then to retract the head, control means for said fluid pressureoper ated means automatically operable by the transfer means to startactuation of said fluid pressure means to operate the tamping head whenthe mold box has been transferred to tamping position, and meansautomatically operable in cooperation with said control means to causethe tamping means torepeat its tampingstroke a predetermined number oftimes and then to discontinue the tamping action.

24. In a machine of the'class described, the combination with avertically reciprocable tamping head and a mold box horizontallytransferable to and from tamping position beneath the head, of meansincluding a cylinder and plunger operated by fluid pressure to impartreciprocatory movements to the tamping head, means operable to imparttransfer movements to the mold box to and from tamping position, areverse valve operable to admit fluid operating pressure first to oneend and then the other of said cylinder to operate the pressure head,means operable by the transfer means when the box has been moved totamping position to operate said valve to admit fluid pressure to theupper end of the cylinder to impart a down'stroke to the presser head,mean automatically operable at the end of the down stroke of the presserhead to impart reverse movement to said valve to cause a raising of thepresser head, and means automatically operable tocause a predeterminednumber of repeats of the tamping strokes of the presser head and then tostop the tamping action.

25. In a machine of the class described, a mold box horizontallyshiitable to and fromtamping position, a tamping head reciprocallymovable vertically over the mold box when in tamping position, meansoperatedby fluid pressure for imparting a tamping stroke to said headand i 'then to return it to raised position, means oper-

